First-degree murder charge in cold case

Related Stories

New evidence has led police to once again arrest and charge Anthony Edward Ringel in the murder of Hanover teen Christine Harron who went missing almost 20 years ago.
The 44-year-old Chesley man was arrested Wednesday evening and charged with first degree murder in the death of the girl, who was 15 at the time of her disappearance in 1993.
On Thursday, a news conference was held at the Walkerton detachment of the South Bruce OPP where Det. Insp. Chris Gilpin of the OPP's Criminal Investigation Branch announced the new charge.
"I can't discus the evidence we have discovered simply because it is before the courts and I don't want to cause any problems with the court process," said Gilpin, who was assigned to the case in 2009 as a major case manager. "I am unable to provide you with that information at this time."
Gilpin said whenever a case is unresolved, the OPP will work diligently to successfully bring it to resolution.
"In this case it has been a long time, but that is what we have done," said Gilpin, who added the new evidence was found over the past few years with the "determined assistance of members of the South Bruce OPP Criminal Investigation Unit."
Harron was last seen on May 18, 1993, when the teen, who had stayed home from school after a brief family argument, left her home around noon indicating she was going to John Diefenbaker Secondary School where she was a student. She never appeared at the school and never returned home. Her body has not been found.
"We do not have her body yet," Gilpin said Thursday, but there will be another search for Harron's remains.
In 2004 police searched the Hanover-Walkerton landfill for clues and Gilpin said there is a possibility the new evidence will lead to the girl's remains.
"We will be planning (a search) in the near future, but a date has not been set," said Gilpin, who did not want to say where the search would be.
Ringel was 35 years old when he was first arrested in August 2004 and charged with first degree murder in Harron's death. He was held without bail for almost two years.
He was committed to trial on June 21, 2005, following a preliminary hearing but on Oct. 20, 2006, the day a trial date was to be set in Walkerton, when the first degree murder charge against Ringel was stayed for 12 months due to admissibility of some of the evidence. The charges were eventually permanently stayed.
"We have been in constant consultation with Crown attorneys in this entire process and after advice from the Crown attorneys we have made this arrest and are willing and more than capable of proceeding forward at this time," said Gilpin. "I cannot comment on the strength of the evidence or even the content of it, but there is sufficient to make this arrest and proceed forward."
Last May, a documentary on CBC television detailed the case and some of the concerns Harron's family had with the way it was handled by police. It also brought to light court information that had been subject to a publication ban that may no longer be in effect.
Gilpin said the investigation never stopped after the charges against Ringel were stayed.
"It continued on and continued as it normally would and it was unaffected," said Gilpin when asked if the documentary had any impact on Wednesday's arrest.
On Thursday, Ringel appeared in court for a bail hearing on the new first degree murder charge but was remanded into custody for another appearance via video on Monday at 2 p.m. A publication ban was placed on any evidence discussed during the bail process.
Harron's mother, Mary Ann Russwurm, and stepfather, Shawn Russwurm, were at Thursday's announcement at the Walkerton OPP detachment and also attended Ringel's court appearance afterwards.
Mary Ann Russwurm said the family is thankful the arrest was made and feels the CBC documentary helped a lot.
"Hopefully justice will be had," said Russwurm, who added there is no such thing as closure.
"It has been a long time coming, but thankfully we have gotten to the point we are now," she said.
"Maybe even sometime or other we could maybe actually find her remains and put them to rest. That is all I am hoping for at this time," said Harron's aunt, Shirley Sachs, who was also at the news conference and hearing.

Anthony Edward Ringel is led away from court in Walkerton on Thursday, February 28, 2013 after appearing on a charge of first degree-murder in connection with the disappearance of Christine Harron, a Hanover teen, in 1993. JAMES MASTERS/QMI FILE PHOTO